Take a gander at the iconic Norman Rockwell painting “The Runaway” and the fond gaze by the little boy looking at the state trooper in the diner.

That little boy might as well be Nathan Norman. Law enforcement, medical personnel and firefighters are his heroes and they have stepped up to give the boy, who has a brain tumor, his Christmas wish.

Nathan, who will turn 6 a few days after Christmas, wanted badges, patches and other memorabilia from public safety departments. The endeavor started in September but since word of the boy's fight against cancer and his wish have spread, boxes of cards, gifts and personal visits from public safety officials from across the country has flooded the Norman family home in Rustburg, Va.

A crew of public safety officials from New England is heading to Virginia to visit the boy Dec. 20. Included in that group are officers from the Worcester Police Department.

“We feel we have to step up and do this for this little boy,” Worcester Police Sgt. Mark J. Sawyer said. “We can all take a little time out of our busy schedules because it means a lot to him.”

The sergeant learned about Nathan through an email sent out by a sergeant in another department. Word spread across New England and now more than 50 agencies are participating.

“We have an awesome job with awesome responsibilities,” Sgt. Sawyer said. “Anyone who hears his story is obviously touched right away by it.”

News agencies from all over have been calling the Normans' home. Packages and mail from every delivery company imaginable have been dropped off for Nathan and his three siblings.

“It just went global,” Nathan's father, Bobby Norman, said in a telephone interview. “I never realized how they were cut (public safety officials) until this. In my eyes these people are cut from a swath that is unlike anybody else.”

Nathan was diagnosed roughly three years ago and has undergone surgeries and chemotherapy. Doctors have not given a timetable on how long the little boy has to live, but the next phase of treatment will be clinical trials.

“The doctors told us the longer it stays in his brain the less chance he has to live,” Mr. Norman said.

Receiving six trays of mail with cards covering them isn't abnormal now. The boy even played around with robots used to diffuse bombs.

Some of those cards will come from Worcester police officers after Officer Gary Kleiner bought three boxes of cards for fellow officers to sign.

“I read a story and felt terrible for the young lad,” Officer Kleiner said. “All I have to do is send him a card? That's not a big deal. It's such an easy thing to do. If it is going to make him happy, why not do it?”

Officers from the city are using their own money and funds from the Massachusetts Police Association to pay for the trip. The Worcester Gang Unit packaged shirts for the family; there are patches, a junior Worcester police officer plastic badge and Christmas gifts for all of the Norman children.

“It is the least these guys felt they could do,” Worcester Deputy Police Chief Steven M. Sargent said. “These are the reasons we joined the department, to help people. This is one of those things. Our hearts go out. We all have kids. Whatever we can do to make Nathan's life a little better, we're certainly going to do it.”

Calling Nathan a warrior, Mr. Norman said that hearing public safety officials call his son a hero draws a smile to the little boy's face.

“There are so many children out there with cancer and for Nathan to get the reception and loving kindness he has received, it is a gift,” Mr. Norman said. “We need to find a cure for every possible cancer for kids there is.”

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